unlocking waste to resource pathways for sustainable development

Funding Information: This work was supported by the Research Unit on Applied Molecular Biosciences – UCIBIO (UIDP/04378/2020 and UIDB/04378/2020) and the Associate Laboratory Institute for Health and Bioeconomy - i4HB (LA/P/0140/202019), through national funds from FCT - Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia, I.P. The authors acknowledge the Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (FCT) through the project PTDC/BTA-GES/2740/2020_NABIA, DOI 10.54499/PTDC/BTA-GES/2740/2020. The Coimbra Chemistry Centre (CQC) is supported by the FCT through the project UIDB/00313/2020, DOI 10.54499/UIDB/00313/2020. We are grateful for funding from PTScience which is supported through the programs CENTRO-05-4740-FSE-001526 and FEDER. Publisher Copyright: © 2025 The Author(s). Published by Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.The growing environmental crises demands an urgent transition from a linear to a circular economy. Microalgae are photosynthetic microorganisms that offer exceptional potential due to their rapid growth, high CO₂ fixation capacity, and ability to remove nutrients and pollutants from wastewater, producing both clean water and valuable biomass. Such characteristics have attracted interest in developing circular systems that transform wastes into resources such as biomaterials, biofertilisers, biofuels and bioactive compounds. However, various challenges hinder their industrial application, including technical, economic, environmental, commercial and political barriers. Technical limitations such as inefficient culture systems, low productivity and contamination risks, can be addressed by using genetic engineering tools to develop superior strains, and by developing bioreactors coupled with emerging technologies (AI, Digital Twin). Additionally, it was found that studies using wastewater for microalgae cultivation and a biorefinery approach to recover low and high value bioproducts were found to be energetically, environmentally and economically viable. Several projects and studies demonstrating microalgae-based circular economy models were highlighted. Finally, the implementation of clear regulations and guidelines for wastewater composition in microalgae systems is recommended to facilitate market acceptance and consumer trust in microalgae-derived products.publishersversionpublishe

Antitumoral and antiangiogenic activity of Portuguese propolis in in vitro and in vivo models

Propolis, a natural product, has important biological properties, however, studies with Portuguese propolis are scarce. Thus, we aimed to characterize the chemical composition and the antitumoural and antiangiogenic activities of a sample from Pereiro (Portugal). The chemical profile of our propolis sample (P10.EE) is similar to the poplar propolis type. P10.EE decreased cell viability of different tumour cells, being less cytotoxic against non-tumoural cells. P10.EE decreased MDA-MB-231 and DU145 cell proliferation and migration, with cell cycle changes and increased cell death. The increased glucose consumption and lactate production in MDA-MB-231 cells is explained by an increased expression of different metabolism-related proteins. P10.EE induced a decrease in HBMEC cells total biomass and proliferation and decreased vessel sprouting in the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Additionally, P10.EE potentiates paclitaxel effect in MDA-MB-231 and DU145 cells. Concluding, P10.EE can be a good candidate for cancer drug development since it affects different characteristics that dictate tumorigenesis.This work was supported by the Life and Health Sciences Research Institute, University of Minho, Portugal, and Fundacao para a Ciencia e Tecnologia (FCT) (SFRH/BD/5199712012 to V.M.G.), through Fundo Europeu de Desenvolvimento Regional-QREN-COMPETE, projects PTDC/AAC-CLI1098308/2008 and PTDC/AAC-CLI/11809212010 and also CERNAS (project PEst-OE/AGR/UI0681/2011)

Self-aggregation of free base porphyrins in aqueous solution and in DMPC vesicles

Free base porphyrin (PPhe), derivatized with aminosulfonyl groups linked to the aromatic amino acid phenylalanine at the meso-positions, was mixed with DMPC vesicles. The resulting interaction was studied by absorption, steady-state and transient state fluorescence, at different pHs.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TFB-4R68NKV-2/1/aca6e255f297903981898ccea264a38

Effect of different electrolytes on the swelling properties of calyx[4]pyrrole-containing polyacrylamide membranes

Calix[4]pyrrole (1) was synthesized and characterized and this macrocycle was incorporated in polyacrylamide gels. The presence of meso-octamethyl-porphyrinogen inside of gel was checked using infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and swelling studies. The swelling degree of these hydrogels in equilibrium with different electrolytes (NaCl, LiCl, KCl, CaCl2 and AlCl3) was measured in a concentration range 0.1-0.5 mol dm-3. Although no significant alterations in the swelling degree can be found for the different 1:1 electrolytes, when the cation charge of unsymmetrical electrolytes increases, the gel swells in a significant way. This swelling process is enhanced by the presence of calyx[4]pyrrole. The effect of alkaline hydrolysis of polaycrylamide-based hydrogels was also studied. The hydrolysed hydrogels collapse in the presence of the electrolytes; this behavior is dependent on the hydrolysis degree, electrolyte charge and calyx[4]pyrrole presence and concentration; the latter leads to polyacrylamide with tailor-made properties.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TWW-4K0FJT9-2/1/a2e10fed9f08e8248532610bc3e2bdc

Self-association of free base porphyrins with aminoacid substituents in AOT reverse micelles

The aggregation properties of aminosulfonyl porphyrins with aminoacid substituents: methionine with the acid function methylated, PMetCH3; phenylalanine, PPhe; attached to the para positions of the meso phenyls of the porphyrin, was followed in organic solvents, water-dioxane mixtures and in reverse micelles of aerosol OT (AOT RM), using absorption, steady-state and time-resolved fluorescence. In AOT RM in the absence of water, both porphyrins are mainly present as monomers with the Soret band around 420 nm and with emission maxima around 649 and 717 nm. In the presence of water accounted for by parameter [omega]0, [omega]0 = [H2O]/[AOT], the solubility of both porphyrins is enhanced and followed by important spectral changes similar to those observed in the solvent mixtures: new maxima in absorption around 405 nm and in emission around 670 nm. A concomitant increase of the aggregates' contribution is found for PMetCH3, whereas for PPhe the effect is much more pronounced until [omega]0 = 10, above which a de-aggregation process occurs, due to competition between intra- and inter-molecular interactions. The small resonant light scattering signals observed points to the existence of aggregates of small dimensions whose nature is discussed in terms of exciton theory.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/B6TGY-4HM7S0D-1/1/0b4fa2b44d0d626b2e1b99609a937ba

Characterization of phenols in salvia elegans and salvia greggii

Although Salvia elegans and Salvia greggii are commonly used in traditional medicine in North America their main bioactive components remain unknown. The present study aims to identify the main phenolic components of these two plants. Aqueous extracts of both species were prepared according to the procedure described by Ferreira et al and the total phenolic content of the extracts was evaluated through an adaptation of the Folin-Ciocalteu method. Identification of the phenolic compounds was accomplished by reversed-phase HPLC with DAD and ESI-MSn analysis in negative mode. The aqueous extracts of S. elegans and S. greggii contained 201±46 and 136±1 μg GAE/mg of extract, respectively. The two extracts were mainly composed of rosmarinic acid, which is typically found in Salvia plants. S. elegans also contained significant amounts of other caffeic acid derivatives, in particular lithospermic acid and luteolin derivatives. S. greggii extract, contain also luteolin and apigenin derivatives. The main phenolic constituents of S. elegans and S. greggii are here described for the first time. This knowledge may help further understanding of the claimed health-benefits for these two plants